USD MISCUES ADD UP TO HARVARD WIN

Toreros turnovers combine with costly mistakes on defense

Harvard’s football team flew 2,579 miles from Cambridge, Mass., to San Diego to play its first football game on the West Coast since 1949.

Serving the role of accommodating host, USD did all it could to make the Crimson’s trip an enjoyable one Saturday. There was a fumble returned for a Harvard touchdown, a fumble on the Harvard 1, a boneheaded kickoff return and pass defense that made Crimson quarterback Connor Hempel — who was making his first college start — look like the Ivy League’s Johnny Manziel.

It added up to a 42-20 Harvard victory in front of 4,256 at Torero Stadium. Harvard halted USD’s 13-game home winning streak.

“We were a bad football team today,” said USD coach Dale Lindsey. “They might want to fire me. I might want to fire myself.”

Picked to win the Pioneer Football League championship and advance to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs for the first time in school history, the Toreros dropped to 1-2.

They’ve allowed 115 points in three games.

“I’m still very confident we will win the PFL,” said safety and team captain Robbie Beathard. “But right now, we’re playing like an average football team, which I don’t think we are. We’ve gotta find our identity.”

Harvard didn’t record a first down until 12 minutes, 29 seconds remained in the second quarter, yet the Crimson led 7-0.

USD quarterback Mason Mills was stripped of the ball on the Toreros’ second possession. Harvard defensive end Zach Hodges scooped up the fumble in front of the Toreros bench and sprinted 53 yards to a first-quarter TD.

“I guess I didn’t have a good enough grip on the ball and the guy knocked it out,” said Mills, who completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards and a touchdown. “Nothing much to it. I can’t let it happen.”

Trailing 21-13 with less than five minutes to play in the third quarter, USD was perched with a first down on the Harvard 1. Running back Joe Ferguson squirmed toward the goal line.

“I could have sworn I was in,” said Ferguson.

One play later, Ferguson tried to go airborne. He was stripped of the ball and Harvard recovered on the 1. Momentum, and soon the game, was lost.

Said Ferguson, near tears after the game, “It was one of those plays you wish you could have back.”

A Harvard touchdown put the Crimson up 28-13 with 13:35 to play. Despite his return teammate telling him to stay in the end zone on the ensuing kickoff, Sam Hoekstra ran the ball out from about seven yards deep.

He slipped and fell on the 1, USD went three-and-out, Harvard took over on the USD 28 and drove for a TD. Make it 35-13. End of game.